4 hour work week? Ummmm Yeah it's a myth.

How many entrepreneurs started a business because they wanted life to be easier, to work less, to live life on their terms, have a source of income that "runs itself"? The book "the 4-Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss says you can do it!

How many have achieved this? And how many truly want this? I am waiting on more results of my ongoing questionnaire but I have a hunch anyway.

Most entrepreneurs I know make their harried schedules a point of pride. Maybe it's a Toronto thing, but without complaining about being "crazy busy" they are not happy, and their identity is in crisis. Really, if you worked 4 hours a week, would you not spend the other 40 or so dreaming up new ways to fulfill your creative urges, or come up with more ways to make money? And if your business only takes 4 hours a week to run, you don't have enough problems. And a business with no problems is not doing much, like growing. Or maybe you are Ms or Mr Moneybags and someone else is running it for you, taking care of all the problems, and not telling you about them so as not to bother you while you are spear fishing in New Zealand. That would make me, personally, nuts, and if you can do that, you had pots of money to begin with.


Yeah, sure, some can do it, and have a great lifestyle. Maybe you just want to invest in other businesses and get caught up in weekly meetings (That is a different type of entrepreneur.) But the truth, in fairness to Tim Ferriss, is that it is incredibly hard to follow the best pieces of advice in the book, namely, don't fill your day with e-mails and drudgery, instead, make that one phone call that will make the difference for your business, find that one person at the top of your industry and connect with them directly. Get in at the TOP, ("Guess who I met with today?!") stop wasting your time building up a business brick by brick, then when you have secured the deal of deals, delegate like crazy (presumably for 4 hours a week). Be prepared to give up all work done with your hands, all interactions with small customers, all handling of day to day transactions. Could you do it??

When you meet someone smarter than you, hire them.

Entrepreneurs give the best advice, and have the best rules for life as well as business. I want to explore the world of the self-employed, the new-venture lovers, the dreamers and the innovators, and learn what drives them to do what they do in the face of what is often huge risk.

There are a few gems I have learned over the years that I'll share with you now:

When you meet someone smarter than you, hire them.
Don't let your ego get in the way, and don't think you can do it all. You may be the brainchild of your business, but if you can't adequately share your vision and inspire others to make it happen with you, your capacity to grow will be limited. Heck, don't just hire them, maybe marry them too! I'll be exploring entrepreneurial couples too.

When you start thinking "It's only $100", see it as a red flag.

Money is never "only" money, if you are a serious about growing wealth. You cannot grow rich by valuing money less as more of it rolls in. Rich people, unless they inherited it, got that way by watching and guarding every cent. I know millionaires who still pack a lunch, shop around for the best cell phone deal, negotiate to the penny with everything that counts. If you don't love money, someone who does will happily take it from you.

Do something you love

Because chances are you will be doing it for no pay at some point.

More to come! Please send me your thoughts and your own words of wisdom. And if you would be willing to fill out a questionnaire about your experience as an entrepreneur, let me know.